Week 7: Lateral Thinking

Week 4, 5, 6: Juxtaposition 1, 2, 3

JUXTAPOSITION

Definition: A placing or being placed in nearness or contiguity, or side by side; as a juxtaposition of words

Description: Juxtaposition can be defined as placing two variable, side by side and their contrast or similarity are shown through comparison. Many creative processes rely on juxtaposition. By juxtaposing two objects or words next to each other, human brain will automatically associate or transfer meaning. Usually ‘turning’ something familiar to something less familiar or vice-versa.

The act of juxtaposing is to place two objects or word next to each other. When 2 things put side by side, your brain try to figure what is the relationship between these two?

What automatically happens is that there is transference of meaning. Usually from something familiar to something less familiar.

Metaphor: - Is a figure of speech in which 2 different things are linked by some similarity.

- Comparison that are obvious are not consider metaphors. Therefore, metaphors occur, when 2

- different ideas are being connected in imaginative ways and agreed to be dissimilar at first.

- not using as / like

Example: Life is a box of chocolate,you will never know what you will get!

(The Movie: “Forest Gum”)

Similes: Using as / like

Example: Life is like cooking.It all depends on what you add and how you mix it. Sometimes you follow the recipe and at other times, you’re creative.

Life is like a maze in which you try to avoid the exit.

( example taken from: Roger von Oech’s A Whack on the Side of the Head )

Categories of Analogies There are many different categories of analogies, which will prove to be very useful in the idea generation process. For the purpose of our course we will introduce only two different categories of analogies, which are;

LOGICAL ANALOGIES

Logical analogies are analogies, which use similarities in the design, structure or function of to connect back to the subject. For example a duck can be compared to a hovercraft because of the fact that both of them can move on the surface of land and water. Another example is the comparison of the whale and a submarine, where both can dive to great depths but still need to surface for air. (Sourced from: Nicholas Rourkes’ Art Synectics.)

AFFECTIVE ANALOGIES

Affective analogies are the emotional resemblance. The clearest example is the use of an animal to explain a certain characteristic of a person. This type of analogy is used most frequently in conversation to emphasis certain points. For example, he is like a pig (because he is lazy), she is like an ant (because she is hard working), he is like an owl (because he is wise), etc. This type of analogies uses the intrinsic values of the object as a comparison.

(Sourced from: Nicholas Rourkes’ Art Synectics.)

Week 3: Mind Map

Mind mapping, introduced by Tony Buzan is a great tool for idea generation and brainstorming. It enhance both sides of the human brain and widely used in taking notes, research or generating new ideas. A creative Mind Map is able to stimulate and create interest to the individual and also to the viewer.

Method Creative Thinking; Logical and Associated mind map Technique

Logical Mind Map

The Logical Mind Map is directly connected to stereotypes. The Logical mind map comprises of solely stereotype words. Which means that every word or image that is put within the mind map is directly related to the central subject through its links.

Associated Mind Map

Using an associated mind map we are able to generate random words and also show the links between words that seemingly have no connection.

Logical Mind Maps & Stereotypes

Before beginning a Logical mind map we have to understand what a Stereotype is; below is the definition of the word.

DEFINITIONS OF STEREOTYPE

ster·e·o·type

A conventional, formulaic, and oversimplified conception, opinion, or image.

One that is regarded as embodying or conforming to a set image or type.

ster·e·o·typed, ster·e·o·typ·ing, ster·e·o·types

To make a stereotype of.

To characterize by a stereotype: “Elderly Americans are the neglected sector of the fashion industry, stereotyped by blue hair and polyester pantsuits” (American Demographics).

To give a fixed, unvarying form to.

The Rules Of Logical Mindmapping

Always have your SUBJECT in the center of the page. Try to make the subject more dominant than the rest of the words and images in the mind map. Decide on the main categories of the subject before executing on mind map. Try to have the different categories in different colors, to make it easier to identify. Try to use drawings or images to make your mind map more interesting and personal. The ideal mind map should be shaped like the roots of a tree, branching out from a center. It is OK to repeat words or even interlink certain words. Try to make your mind map neat and easily legible. REMEMBER one of the aims of the mind map is to create interest and to be able to access information easily.

Benefit of Logical Mind-Mapping Technique:

• It is a concise way of listing and categorizing a mass of information. • The relationship between each word will help trigger memories and greatly reduce the amount of note taking and assist in the understanding of the subject. • The more interesting the mind map the greater the interest that the on looker will have in the information. • The usage of images along side with word will again create interest for the mind map as well as assist in triggering a memory of the subject.

Step 1: Research about Mortar and Pestle

A mortar and pestle is a tool used to crush, grind, and mix solid substances (trituration). The pestle is a heavy bat-shaped object, the end of which is used for crushing and grinding. The mortar is a bowl, typically made of hard wood, ceramic or stone. The substance to be ground is placed in the mortar and ground, crushed or mixed with the pestle.

Medical Use

Mortars and pestles were traditionally used in pharmacies to crush various ingredients prior to preparing an extemporaneous prescription. The mortar and pestle, along with the Rod of Asclepius, the Green Cross, and others, is one of the most pervasive symbols of pharmacology,^[3] along with the show globe. For pharmaceutical use, the mortar and the head of the pestle are usually made of porcelain, while the handle of the pestle is made of wood. This is known as a Wedgwood mortar and pestle and originated in 1779. Today the act of mixing ingredients or reducing the particle size is known as trituration. Mortars and pestles are also used as drug paraphernalia to grind up pills to speed up absorption when they are ingested, or in preparation for insufflation.

Food Preparation

Mortars are also used in cooking to prepare ingredients such as guacamole, gazpacho and pesto (which derives its name from the pestle pounding), as well as grinding spices into powder. The molcajete, a version used by pre-Hispanic Mesoamerican cultures including the Aztec and Maya, stretching back several thousand years, is made of basalt and is used widely in Mexican cooking. It likely evolved from the more primitive metate grinding slab. Other Native American tribes used mortars carved into the bedrock to grind acorns and other nuts. Many such depressions can be found in their former territories.

In Japan, very large mortars are used with wooden mallets to prepare mochi. A regular sized Japanese mortar and pestle are called a suribachiand surikogi, respectively. Granite mortars and pestles are used in Southeast Asia, as well as Pakistan and India. In India, it's used extensively to make spice mixtures for various delicacies as well as day to day dishes. With the advent of motorized grinders, use of the mortar and pestle has decreased. It is traditional in various Hindu ceremonies (such as weddings, and upanayanam) to crush turmeric in these mortars. In Malay, it is known as lesung. Large stone mortars, with long (2–3 feet) wood pestles were used in West Asia to grind meat for a type of meatloaf, or kibbeh, as well as the hummus variety known as masabcha.

Week 2: Novelty, Creativity, Innovation, and Invention

The creative person is one who generates new ideas while the creative process is how these new ideas, solutions, and inventions are produced. It is said that, we are all naturally creative. From poetry to building a house, from computer programming to humor, from music to science, creativity is manifested in a variety of different ways. The aim is to understand the complexity of creativity and to comprehend its mystery through a structured program of learning.

NOVELTY

Novelty is the quality of being new. Although it may be said to have an objective dimension (e.g. a new style of art coming into being, such as abstract art or impressionism) it essentially exists in the subjective perceptions of individuals.

Subjective and Objective novelty

Subjective novelty is the apperception of something as being new by an individual person or a group of persons. Objective novelty is something that is new for all humanity in its development through ages. It is unlikely, however, that even the most knowing and knowledgeable person boldly say that he knows everything that was before and take liberty to judge things from this standpoint.

INNOVATION

Innovation is the process of making improvements by introducing something new, the realization of a creative idea in a social context.Innovation is a process by which an idea or invention is translated into a good or service for which people will pay. To be called an innovation, an idea must be replicable at an economical cost and must satisfy a specific need.

INVENTION

those who take existing knowledge and create new ideas

Novelty, Creativity, Innovation and Invention

There are four types of creativity. Creative people fall into these four catagories:

1. Aesthetic Organizers. 2. Boundary Pushers — those who take an existing idea and push it a little further. 3. Inventors — those who take existing knowledge and create new ideas — the Edisons of this world. 4. The rarest group: Boundary Breakers — the Leonardos and the Copernicuses. A paraphrasing of Elliot Eisner (1933-), American art educator

Week 1: Creativity

Creativity is one of the definition being explored is - the generation of new ideas or a new way of doing things. Creativity is the ability to think up and design new inventions, produce works of art, solve problems in new ways, or develop an idea based on an original, novel, or unconventional approach.

Creativity refers to the phenomenon whereby a person creates something new (a product, a solution, a work of art, a novel, a joke, etc.) that has some kind of value. What counts as "new" may be in reference to the individual creator, or to the society or domain within which the novelty occurs. What counts as "valuable" is similarly defined in a variety of ways.

For me Creativity is the new way expression, expression is not only about art, you can express about everything. Like chef, they can express about their food, they can improve their food with creativity. Or like a taxi driver, they can find another way to reach the passenger destination as soon as possible, this one also including the creativity.

Creativity is defined as the tendency to generate or recognize ideas, alternatives, or

possibilities that may be useful in solving problems, communicating with others, and

entertaining ourselves and others.

Three reasons why people are motivated to be creative:

need for novel, varied, and complex stimulation

need to communicate ideas and values

need to solve problems

Ways that "creativity" is commonly used:

1. Persons who express unusual thoughts, who are interesting and stimulating - in short, people who appear to unusually bright.

2. People who experience the world in novel and original ways. These are (personally creative) individuals whose perceptions are fresh, whose judgments are insightful, who may make important discoveries that only they know about.

3. Individuals who have changes our culture in some important way. Because their achievement are by definition public, it is easier to write about them. (e.g., Leonardo, Edison, Picasso, Einstein, etc.)

Like I said before, Creativity can use by people who not only just the painters or graphic designer, creativity can be use by chef, taxi driver, teacher, or even parents in teaching something new to their kids.

So what is 'Creativity'?

A simple definition is that creativity is the ability to imagine or invent something new. Creativity is not the ability to create out of nothing, but the ability to generate new ideas by combining, changing, or reapplying existing ideas. Some creative ideas are astonishing and brilliant, while others are just simple, good, practical ideas that no one seems to have thought of yet.